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Its troubles during the plane’s extensive test phase included a cabin fire caused by an electrical malfunction that forced an emergency landing in early 2010, with 42 pilots, mechanics and engineers on board. A power panel that fed the 787 test plane’s electrical systems had burst into flames, crippling many of the plane’s electronics and forcing the pilots to land using a backup system.

The Dreamliner was delayed for months amid the subsequent investigation and the regulatory hoops that Boeing had to jump through to satisfy the FAA that the problem had been resolved. And that’s just one example.

To examine the Dreamliner’s history is to read a list of bumps in the road, equipment failures and shoddy parts that ended up delaying the world’s most technologically advanced airplane for years, earning it the nickname “7-late-7” in some circles. The FAA certified the plane in August 2011, three years later than Boeing had intended. Boeing first applied for certification in 2003.

When a new plane is first certified, some “teething issues” are to be expected — for instance, fuel leaks or window cracks of the sort that plagued some 787s late last week.

But the fire risk for the lithium-ion batteries the plane relies on ups the ante significantly. They are most of the reason why the FAA initiated a review of the Dreamliner’s design and manufacture, and why the agency grounded the 787 fleet on Wednesday evening amid mounting reports of problems.

“The windshield crack, fuel leak, generator system malfunctions, that’s all teething stuff,” said Scott Hamilton, managing director at Leeham Co., an aviation consultancy. “But when you cross the line and have a fire, whether it’s on the ground or God forbid in flight — as they say, it’s a big old s — t.”

Now, Boeing faces the threat that its preferred narrative — an American manufacturing success story unveiling a groundbreaking fuel-efficient airplane — will be replaced with pictures of firefighters dousing a battery fire and planes in chocks.

Boeing has staked much of its reputation, and its money, on the Dreamliner’s success. It has been the company’s fastest-selling model to date, outpacing its rival Airbus’s newest offering.

Marc Birtel, a spokesman for Boeing, said so far none of its 798 unfilled orders has been canceled. However, pressure on Boeing will mount the longer the safety review takes. And there are already some signs of dissatisfaction — on Thursday morning, Polish airline LOT said it may seek compensation from Boeing.

Last week, before the planes were grounded, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta insisted the planes were safe. They also offered a prebuttal of any critique of the FAA’s certification procedures, some of which had to be designed specifically for the Dreamliner’s innovative new systems.

“From Day One we have worked with Boeing to certify these systems and to further ensure that this innovative aircraft meets our high level of safety,” Huerta told reporters. “We believe this is a safe aircraft.”